Why are Kids Failing Math?

The main reason that Texas elementary children are failing math is that many do not read at grade level. This is not a new problem for lower grades.

Some kids are “late bloomers.” Reading well has not in the past affected math. In fact, when I was in elementary, I disliked those awful “reading problems.” Those were the problems that mom had to help me with. I finally came up with my own methods of doing word problems, but not in the 3rd grade.

Have you noticed that the rigor of math keeps being raised and all students are expected to learn at the same rate. When did our state educators forget that all children are not the same. All children do not learn at the same rate. Now children with learning disabilities will be taking the same STAAR tests. Not that it really matters, the Modified STAAR had very little modification. Inclusion means that children who may need a different type of instruction are part of regular classes. This means that teachers are suppose to give the same instruction to all students and all students are suppose to be able to understand and keep up no matter how fast the pace. Teachers no longer have much to say about what, when or how to teach.

TEA now has 3rd grade kids preparing for algebra. At this age, many are not able to do this only because children do not develop at the same rate.

Texas children have the potential ability to solve word problems. But first they have to know how to read. Not every child will go to college and that is ok. All need to read well and know basic math. I personally think Algebra is important, but not in 3rd grade.

How about right brain-left brain skills? I can solve physics and chemistry problems but cannot write a poem.

I have an idea! Let’s stop equal education, which mean all children are educated to the same level. The top step is lowered so that everyone can reach it. Instead, how about giving all students the opportunity to excel at their own rate and reach just as high as possible. Yes, ask kids to stretch just a bit farther than they think they can.

There will always be reading gaps in elementary. But this should not affect math. I personally do not care if every child in China or any other country can read before they walk.

STOP making comparisons and start teaching our children how to read, write and do math.

The STAAR TESTING dates are another reason your child may be failing. The TEKS are designed for an entire school year. Students do not have the entire year to learn the TEKS for math, or any other subject. Instead, the STAAR tests are given in April. To be prepared for the STAAR tests, many schools start reviewing at the beginning of the 5th 6-weeks of school. This means that kids have only the first four 6-weeks of school to learn all the TEKS for each of the subjects.

Why are the STAAR tests given so early in the school year? The answer is simple. TEA wants to be able to give two chances for kids in the 5th and 8th grades to retake the math and/or reading STAAR tests. Thus, the education of students in elementary and middle school is sacrificed so that TEA can give Math and Reading retests before the school term is over.

What do elementary and middle school students do while other students are being retested?

This is a good questions and one that every parent needs to ask about. Think about it. Students who take STAAR tests have covered all the TEKS for the entire year. Thus, what do teachers do in these classes? Some of their students are being retested and will miss out on new material presented. Nothing seems to matter in Texas schools except taking the STAAR tests. Educating students is compressed into a short time period so that retests can be given.

In science, teachers finally have time to do the investigations that should have been done while studying each science concept. Yes, finally the fun part of science can be done. Sadly, kids who failed the math or reading miss out on this. I have no idea what teachers in other curriculum do. The STAAR testing and retesting has turned public school into child care once the STAAR tests have been given.

Our legislatures need to be notified of this problem. The STAAR tests need to be given the last weeks of school so that teachers have the entire school year to prepare children for the tests. The grades will improve. One retest is enough.

Following is a new 3rd grade math TEKS. Teachers cannot teach all of these TEKS before the April STAAR test, but they are required to do this. There is no need to have 180 days of school each year when only about 120 days or less are actually provided before the STAAR TESTING begins.

3.1.A apply mathematics to problems arising in everyday life, society, and the workplace;

Example: Jane made 747 pieces of peanut brittle to share with her friends. She put 9 pieces of peanut brittle in each tin. How many tins was Jane able to fill?

Divide the total number of pieces of peanut brittle by the number of pieces in each tin.

Students may know how to divide to find the answer, but if they are behind in reading, they will not be able to work this problem. Thus, the STAAR math tests do not assess math abilities, instead they assess reading and math, with reading being most important.

Following are all the new revised TEKS for 3rd grade. You can find examples for each of these TEKS on this website. This is a free interactive site and has examples for all grade levels. You can also compare the Texas math TEKS to common core TEKS which are also found on this site. While the working of the TEKS and common core standards may be different, you will find the same math examples for both standards.

3.1.B use a problem-solving model that incorporates analyzing given information, formulating a plan or strategy, determining a solution, justifying the solution, and evaluating the problem-solving process and the reasonableness of the solution;

3.1.C select tools, including real objects, manipulatives, paper and pencil, and technology as appropriate, and techniques, including mental math, estimation, and number sense as appropriate, to solve problems;

3.1.D communicate mathematical ideas, reasoning, and their implications using multiple representations, including symbols, diagrams, graphs, and language as appropriate;

3.1.E create and use representations to organize, record, and communicate mathematical ideas;

3.1.G display, explain, and justify mathematical ideas and arguments using precise mathematical language in written or oral communication.

3.2 The student applies mathematical process standards to represent and compare whole numbers and understand relationships related to place value.

3.2.A compose and decompose numbers up to 100,000 as a sum of so many ten thousands, so many thousands, so many hundreds, so many tens, and so many ones using objects, pictorial models, and numbers, including expanded notation as appropriate;

3.2.B describe the mathematical relationships found in the base-10 place value system through the hundred thousands place;

3.2.C represent a number on a number line as being between two consecutive multiples of 10; 100; 1,000; or 10,000 and use words to describe relative size of numbers in order to round whole numbers; and

3.2.D compare and order whole numbers up to 100,000 and represent comparisons using the symbols >, <, or =.

3.3.A represent fractions greater than zero and less than or equal to one with denominators of 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 using concrete objects and pictorial models, including strip diagrams and number lines;

3.3.B determine the corresponding fraction greater than zero and less than or equal to one with denominators of 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 given a specified point on a number line;

3.3.C explain that the unit fraction 1/b represents the quantity formed by one part of a whole that has been partitioned into b equal parts where b is a non-zero whole number;

3.3.D compose and decompose a fraction a/b with a numerator greater than zero and less than or equal to b as a sum of parts 1/b;

3.3.E solve problems involving partitioning an object or a set of objects among two or more recipients using pictorial representations of fractions with denominators of 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8;

3.3.F represent equivalent fractions with denominators of 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 using a variety of objects and pictorial models, including number lines;

3.3.G explain that two fractions are equivalent if and only if they are both represented by the same point on the number line or represent the same portion of a same size whole for an area model; and

3.3.H compare two fractions having the same numerator or denominator in problems by reasoning about their sizes and justifying the conclusion using symbols, words, objects, and pictorial models.

3.4 The student applies mathematical process standards to develop and use strategies and methods for whole number computations in order to solve problems with efficiency and accuracy.

3.4.A solve with fluency one-step and two-step problems involving addition and subtraction within 1,000 using strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and the relationship between addition and subtraction;

3.4.B round to the nearest 10 or 100 or use compatible numbers to estimate solutions to addition and subtraction problems;

3.4.C determine the value of a collection of coins and bills;

3.4.D determine the total number of objects when equally-sized groups of objects are combined or arranged in arrays up to 10 by 10;

3.4.E represent multiplication facts by using a variety of approaches such as repeated addition, equal-sized groups, arrays, area models, equal jumps on a number line, and skip counting;

3.4.F recall facts to multiply up to 10 by 10 with automaticity and recall the corresponding division facts;

3.4.G use strategies and algorithms, including the standard algorithm, to multiply a two-digit number by a one-digit number. Strategies may include mental math, partial products, and the commutative, associative, and distributive properties;

3.4.H determine the number of objects in each group when a set of objects is partitioned into equal shares or a set of objects is shared equally;

3.4.I determine if a number is even or odd using divisibility rules;

3.4.J determine a quotient using the relationship between multiplication and division; and

3.5.A represent one- and two-step problems involving addition and subtraction of whole numbers to 1,000 using pictorial models, number lines, and equations;

3.5.B represent and solve one- and two-step multiplication and division problems within 100 using arrays, strip diagrams, and equations;

3.5.C describe a multiplication expression as a comparison such as 3 x 24 represents 3 times as much as 24;

3.5.D determine the unknown whole number in a multiplication or division equation relating three whole numbers when the unknown is either a missing factor or product; and

3.5.E represent real-world relationships using number pairs in a table and verbal descriptions.

3.6 The student applies mathematical process standards to analyze attributes of two-dimensional geometric figures to develop generalizations about their properties.

3.6.A classify and sort two- and three-dimensional solids, including cones, cylinders, spheres, triangular and rectangular prisms, and cubes, based on attributes using formal geometric language;

3.6.B use attributes to recognize rhombuses, parallelograms, trapezoids, rectangles, and squares as examples of quadrilaterals and draw examples of quadrilaterals that do not belong to any of these subcategories;

3.6.C determine the area of rectangles with whole number side lengths in problems using multiplication related to the number of rows times the number of unit squares in each row;

3.6.D decompose composite figures formed by rectangles into non-overlapping rectangles to determine the area of the original figure using the additive property of area; and

3.6.E decompose two congruent two-dimensional figures into parts with equal areas and express the area of each part as a unit fraction of the whole and recognize that equal shares of identical wholes need not have the same shape.

3.7.A represent fractions of halves, fourths, and eighths as distances from zero on a number line;

3.7.B determine the perimeter of a polygon or a missing length when given perimeter and remaining side lengths in problems;

3.7.C determine the solutions to problems involving addition and subtraction of time intervals in minutes using pictorial models or tools such as a 15-minute event plus a 30-minute event equals 45 minutes;

3.7.D determine when it is appropriate to use measurements of liquid volume (capacity) or weight; and

3.8.A summarize a data set with multiple categories using a frequency table, dot plot, pictograph, or bar graph with scaled intervals; and

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The following standard is unrealistic. What do 3rd grade children know about saving for college? Why should 3rd grade children be asked about these topics? How are teachers to explain these topics to children whose family receives government assistance?